State: Virginia- While this was a state of farmers and plantations, dependent economically on trade of crops such as tobacco, they also had one of the most advanced governmental systems throughout their history as a colony and had one of the largest populations. Many influential individuals including Washington, Jefferson, and Madison also came from Virginia.
Occupation: Justice of the Peace, Senator of Virginia House of Burgess
Socio-economic background: Lee was born into a wealthy and aristocratic English family in the colony of Virginia, remaining there his whole life (minus his schooling in England). His father was the Hon. Col. Thomas Lee, who was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and a member of the Governor’s Council of Virginia. He was a loyal Virginian, being of the 3rd generation of the Lee family born there. After being schooled Lee became a practicing lawyer and later Justice of the Peace in the Virginia colony. He then became a member of the House of Burgesses and a delegate of Virginia to both Continental Congresses. He first put forth the motion of independence which Jefferson drafted so eloquently in the Declaration we know today.
Education: Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England
Constitution Convention: Richard Henry Lee was invited to the Constitutional convention but refused to attend. Member of state’s ratifying committee: No
Arguments: He feared that a faction of men would create a strong central government while ignoring pre-existing government (exactly what ended up happening). Found that the men who wrote the Constitution found the regulations of the Articles, which were set up to keep in check the federal government, were inconvenient, and simply ignored them. A writer of the Articles, he strongly supported the limits they had on power and span of the fed. He felt the men writing the Constitution were not the most honorable and worried for the country should the document be adopted. He thought the Constitution created too much a national government as opposed to a federal one. Thought ratification was rushed way too much (20 hours in Pennsylvania). Thought states should only impart so much power on Fed as to promote safety and happiness
Friends: Patrick Henry in particular, and all other anti-federalists including Samuel Adams and those that opposed the power of the Constitution.
Foes: John Adams, James Madison, and other federalists.
Bibliography
"Biography: Richard Henry Lee." Answers.com. Answers corporation. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.answers.com/>.
Kindig, Thomas. "Richard Henry Lee." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.ushistory.org/>.
"Richard Henry Lee: Anti-Federalist." Congress Shall Make No Law. Charles Olson. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.csmnl.com/homepage.htm>.
Roland, Jon. "Letters from the Federal Farmer." Constitution Society. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.constitution.org/>.
Vinci, John. "Biography of Richard Henry Lee." ColonialHall.com. John Vinci, 21 Aug. 2008. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://colonialhall.com/>.
Richard Henry Lee
Position: Anti-federalist
State: Virginia- While this was a state of farmers and plantations, dependent economically on trade of crops such as tobacco, they also had one of the most advanced governmental systems throughout their history as a colony and had one of the largest populations. Many influential individuals including Washington, Jefferson, and Madison also came from Virginia.
Occupation: Justice of the Peace, Senator of Virginia House of Burgess
Socio-economic background: Lee was born into a wealthy and aristocratic English family in the colony of Virginia, remaining there his whole life (minus his schooling in England). His father was the Hon. Col. Thomas Lee, who was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and a member of the Governor’s Council of Virginia. He was a loyal Virginian, being of the 3rd generation of the Lee family born there. After being schooled Lee became a practicing lawyer and later Justice of the Peace in the Virginia colony. He then became a member of the House of Burgesses and a delegate of Virginia to both Continental Congresses. He first put forth the motion of independence which Jefferson drafted so eloquently in the Declaration we know today.
Education: Queen Elizabeth Grammar School in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England
Constitution Convention: Richard Henry Lee was invited to the Constitutional convention but refused to attend.
Member of state’s ratifying committee: No
Arguments: He feared that a faction of men would create a strong central government while ignoring pre-existing government (exactly what ended up happening). Found that the men who wrote the Constitution found the regulations of the Articles, which were set up to keep in check the federal government, were inconvenient, and simply ignored them. A writer of the Articles, he strongly supported the limits they had on power and span of the fed. He felt the men writing the Constitution were not the most honorable and worried for the country should the document be adopted. He thought the Constitution created too much a national government as opposed to a federal one. Thought ratification was rushed way too much (20 hours in Pennsylvania). Thought states should only impart so much power on Fed as to promote safety and happiness
Friends: Patrick Henry in particular, and all other anti-federalists including Samuel Adams and those that opposed the power of the Constitution.
Foes: John Adams, James Madison, and other federalists.
Bibliography
"Biography: Richard Henry Lee." Answers.com. Answers corporation. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.answers.com/>.
Kindig, Thomas. "Richard Henry Lee." Ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.ushistory.org/>.
"Richard Henry Lee: Anti-Federalist." Congress Shall Make No Law. Charles Olson. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.csmnl.com/homepage.htm>.
Roland, Jon. "Letters from the Federal Farmer." Constitution Society. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://www.constitution.org/>.
Vinci, John. "Biography of Richard Henry Lee." ColonialHall.com. John Vinci, 21 Aug. 2008. Web. 20 Sept. 2009. <http://colonialhall.com/>.